The Alumni Leadership Retreat was the first of its kind to bring together leaders from Elon’s three affinity networks, regional alumni chapters, Young Alumni Council for collaboration and connection. Hosted by Elon’s Office of Alumni Engagement, the retreat provided attendees with time for professional development and discussion of the plans their groups are making for the future.  

The weekend began with remarks from Jim Piatt, vice president for university advancement, who shared an update about Elon’s priorities for a historic year ahead. Topics included upcoming university events, an update on new facilities opening this fall and other changes to the physical campus, and Elon’s next comprehensive fundraising campaign.

“I was thrilled to have joined this wonderful group of loyal and dedicated alumni. Elon’s alumni leaders are critical to the university’s future goals and objectives,” said Piatt. “The Alumni Leadership Retreat was both an excellent opportunity for collaboration across alumni network teams and a time for alumni who are deeply invested in Elon to learn more about the university’s plans for the future.”

Saturday’s retreat took place in The Washington Center headquarters. Director of Alumni Engagement Brian Feeley ’03 kicked-off the second day with a year in review and year ahead presentation. During the discussion, Feeley detailed a record-setting year for the number of alumni attending events, serving in alumni volunteer roles and making a gift to Elon. Aliana Harrison ’08, president of the Elon Black Alumni Network, led the next session titled, “Applying Alumni Leadership to Your Life,” which focused on leadership development.

After a working lunch concentrated on utilizing group resources for engagement, the teams broke out into individual volunteer sessions for the rest of the evening. The regional chapter leadership sessions included discussions about continuing to elevate regional chapter events, which touched on alumni needs for the Welcome to the City, Elon Day and Professional Development Series events. During part of the affinity network’s meetings, the leadership team saw a presentation on Elon’s brand identity standards and how best to communicate with alumni through email and social media.

The number of Elon’s alumni volunteers has grown steadily in recent years. A total of 2,444 alumni engaged in service roles during the 2017-18 academic year, which represents an increase of 31 percent since 2015 and 10 times the number since the start of the Elon Commitment strategic plan in 2010.

To learn more about getting involved at Elon, visit the university’s alumni volunteer opportunities page.

While a gift of $20.18 in honor of their class year was encouraged, gifts of any size to any area of campus were accepted. 

The class of 2018 ended their year with 56 percent participation, a 23 percent increase from just five years ago. Additionally, the more than $14,000 raised will support various areas across campus, allowing for the continued success and development of future Elon students. 

The senior class giving committee, led by co-chairs Helen Leahy ’18 and Evan Seder ’18 hosted many events throughout the year, from a senior year kickoff celebration in August, to a donors-only reception with President Connie Ledoux Book during Senior Week. 

¾Ã¾ÃÈÈ serving on the committee worked to educate peers on the importance of private donations to the university, stressing that a senior class gift is the foundation of successful university philanthropy. Because of this, all senior donors immediately became members of The 1889 Society, Elon’s loyal giving society. 

To see a complete list of senior donors, and to learn more about senior class giving, please visit . 

Surrounded by fossils of the past, Book spoke of her vision of Elon’s future, including the continued growth of the campus, increased resources for student scholarships and the importance of alumni participation.

“Each Evening for Elon event brings with it the same sense of community found on Elon’s campus,” said Brian Feeley ’03, director of alumni engagement. “Friends, classmates and colleagues are brought together not only to celebrate Elon’s accomplishments, but to learn about the exciting future of our university.”

The final spring Evening for Elon event will take place on May 3 in Raleigh, N.C., at the Raleigh Convention Center Ballroom. Those wishing to attend can 

The Elon community around the world came together March 13 to support the university in honor of Elon Day, contributing 5,370 gifts and raising $1,840,378 to support students, scholarships, athletics and academic programs. The day’s totals surpassed each previous Elon Day celebration to become the single-greatest day of giving in the university’s history.

Engagement on social media also hit a peak, with people around the world showing their pride using #ElonDay. The combined giving between alumni, parents and grandparents was a key factor in the day’s success, with 57 percent of gifts coming from Elon graduates and 26 percent from parents and grandparents.

“Elon Day’s momentum and impact has grown year after year, and the driving force of that growth is the engagement of the entire Elon community,” said John H. Barnhill ’92, assistant vice president for university advancement. “The goals are ambitious, but each gift demonstrates the belief that our partners, advocates and investors have in the university. Elon Day’s continued success exemplifies what can happen when we come together to make a difference for our Elon.”

The day started with a $100,000 scholarship challenge sponsored by the Elon Alumni Board, which called for Elon Day donors to reach 1,250 gifts before the university’s College Coffee at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday.

At College Coffee, Elon Trustee Jeanne Robertson P’89 GP’17 announced the “Join Jeanne” match, which matched dollar for dollar gifts to any athletics designation up to $100,000. Also announced at College Coffee was the “Our Elon” match from Stephen and Susie Paneyko P’20 and several anonymous donors, which matched dollar for dollar gifts to the Elon Greatest Need’s fund.

This momentum led to the Midday Scholarship Challenge sponsored by Rob and Lisa Heaton P’16 P’18, Alan and Susan Tivoli P’21, and Mike and Marjorie Brennan P’19. This challenge called for donors to reach 2,705 gifts by 5 p.m. to secure three new scholarships worth a combined $250,000.

The final challenge, sponsored by the Robert and Mary Cobb Family Foundation, called for donors to reach 5,000 gifts by midnight to unlock a new $500,000 Odyssey Program Scholarship. Donors successfully completed every challenge of the day, surpassing the final goal of 5,000 by 370 gifts.

​In addition to College Coffee, on-campus events included a Senior Toast for the Class of 2018 and an Elon Day All-Student Party later in the evening. In total, three events on campus and 43 alumni chapter events around the world drew more than 3,880 attendees.

The following donors generously sponsored Elon Day giving challenges and matches:

• Elon Trustee Jeanne Robertson and husband Jerry Robertson P’89 GP’17
• Robert and Mary Cobb Family Foundation
• Elon Alumni Board
• Rob and Lisa Heaton P’16 P’18
• Alan and Susan Tivoli P’21
• Mike and Marjorie Brennan P’19
• Stephen and Susie Paneyko P’20
• Jill Rose ’00 and T.J. Rose ’00
• Shawn and Robbie Ellsworth P’20
• Josh McIntosh ’97
• John and Theresa Soffronoff P’19

Learn more about this year’s historic day of giving at elon.edu/elonday.

Smiddy’s engagement was defined by his time as a student manager at Harden Cafeteria (now McEwen Dining Hall), intramural sports official, WSOE Disc Jockey and as a proud member of Sigma Pi Fraternity. This dedication and desire to be challenged followed him after graduation, and in 2004 he decided to start his own company, Drive-Bye-Exterminators.

Despite his current success, Smiddy still wishes he took the chance to start his business earlier. Through the Thomas M. Smiddy ’88 and Sherri Smiddy Endowed Scholarship, he will ensure that a student has the motivation and security to strive for his or her goals. Rather than being based on academic achievement, the scholarship recipients will be chosen on their exceptional campus involvement for Fraternity & Sorority Life, the Martha & Spencer Love School of Business or work-study.

The announcement for the endowment comes on Elon Day, a day in which the entire Elon community joins together to support the university and its students. Tom and Sherri Smiddy truly embody what Elon Day represents and will continue to serve as role models for other partners, advocates and investors in ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈ.

Tom and Sherri Smiddy live in Clearwater, Florida.

With more than 30 students and alumni in attendance, the event was casual and informative. A panel of alumni answered students’ questions and described the British work environment, their professional stories and how to best utilize time abroad. For the students, the event served as an appropriate introduction before beginning their semester-long internships.

“There was a really good turnout,” said Laura Bloom ’09, president of the London Alumni Chapter, “The students got a lot out of it and it was a wonderful opportunity to get the alumni together and speaking to each other about their jobs and life as well.”

In an effort to provide meaningful connections and opportunities for development, many alumni chapters host events that engage alumni within their communities. By enhancing and growing the Elon Alumni Network, students and alumni alike are able to benefit from a strong​support system that continues their Elon experience.

The mobile-friendly  will be updated throughout the day to include a total of Elon Day gifts in real time, a live list of donors and interactive leaderboards displaying the academic schools, campus funds and athletic programs receiving support. Gifts of all sizes and designations will count toward the total given during Elon Day.

>> Follow Elon Day news all day on March 13 at 

On-campus events include a special College Coffee starting at 9:40 a.m. in Alumni Gym, which will be live streamed. The senior class giving committee will host the Senior Toast at 8 p.m. in McKinnon Hall, and all students are invited to attend the All-Student Party celebration in Moseley Student Center at 9 p.m., with activities ranging from photo booths to Skee-Ball.

​In addition, all members of the university community can use #ElonDay on social media to share photos and follow the celebration. Last year, #ElonDay became a nationally trending topic on Twitter and Instagram.

Elon Day began in 2014 as part of the university’s 125th anniversary celebration. Last year, donors made 4,299 gifts totaling more than $1,075,025 in honor of Elon Day.

Learn more about additional on-campus events and regional alumni chapter Elon Day parties on the , and follow #ElonDay on social media for exciting news and updates.

Please send an email to elonday@elon.edu or contact 1 (877) 784-ELON (3566) with questions. 

The event was hosted at Cannon Green, a vibrant event space that allowed attendees to take advantage of warm weather during the outdoor reception earlier in the evening. The main program was held indoors, providing an intimate setting for a special conversation between President Leo M. Lambert and President-elect Connie Ledoux Book.

Seated on stage, Elon's eighth and ninth presidents took turns answering each other’s questions about their Elon experiences and visions for the university’s future. The conversation touched on subjects such as Elon’s innovative and student-centered culture, the continued growth of Elon’s campus, a focus on increasing resources for student scholarships and the importance of alumni participation. 

“Dr. Book’s distinguished 16-year career at Elon as a faculty member and administrator, combined with her senior leadership experience and accomplishments at The Citadel, made her the unanimous choice of the Board of Trustees to be our ninth president,” said Brian Feeley ’03, director of alumni engagement, during his introduction of Elon's next president. “My colleagues and I have heard from a chorus of alumni, parents and friends who have all expressed excitement and support for Dr. Book. She is the right leader at the right time.”

The gathering also marked Lambert’s final Evening for Elon as president of the university, with Book stepping into the role on March 1.

The Evening for Elon series will continue into spring with events taking place in Charlotte, Atlanta and Raleigh. Click here for the full spring 2018 schedule.

Monday, Jan. 29, 2018

6:30 p.m. Reception

7:30 p.m. Special remarks by President Lambert and President-Elect Book

Cannon Green

103 Spring St.

Charleston, South Carolina 29403

(843) 817-7311

Business attire

Cocktail reception with hors d’oeuvres

Inquiries: (877) 784-356

Pund, who graduated with a bachelor's in human service studies, is director of the NASTAD Health Care Access team. The NASTAD is a nonprofit organization that represents the nation's leading officials responsible for administering HIV/AIDS and viral hepatitis care, prevention and education, and supports state health programs.

This is the most recent award for Pund, who previously received an Elon Young Alumna of the Year award in 2013, a Distinguished Alumni Award from Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences, in 2012, and was named an “AIDS Hero” in 2010 by Housing Works, a national nonprofit.

A strong supporter of Elon, Pund has been a volunteer for the university since 2010, having served as a member and president of the Young Alumni Council, which strengthens connections between young alumni and the university. In 2012 Pund and her husband, Zachary Pund '05, began a scholarship for individuals conducting research in Elon's Department of Human Services. Additionally, both are members of the Elon Society, the university’s premier annual giving recognition society and the Order of the Oak, a society for donors who have named Elon as the beneficiary of a planned gift.

Pund’s deep involvement in Elon, through her roles and contributions, truly represents a relationship with the university as a partner, advocate and investor. The Pund family’s commitment to Elon continues with Zachary Pund, also a former Young Alumni Council member, who currently serves on the Phoenix Club Advisory Board. The couple lives in Ellicott City, Maryland, with their three children.